News Letter & USS Hancock Reunion 2025: Summary
Gathering of Shipmates in San Antonio
Overview
The USS Hancock Reunion 2025 brought together former crew members, friends, and families to celebrate their shared naval heritage in San Antonio, Texas. The event offered attendees the opportunity to reconnect, reminisce, and honor the legacy of the USS Hancock (CVA-19).
Location and Dates
The reunion dates were Sept. 28, to October 3, 2025. The reunion was held at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk, in San Antonio, a city known for its rich history and vibrant culture. Attendees enjoyed the scenic beauty and hospitality of the city while participating in scheduled reunion activities.
Activities and Highlights
I would like to recognize immediate Past President Dale Montague, assisted by his wife Gayle for making 2025, San Antonio, a great reunion. I would also like to thank them for their past two years of service as President. Dale, along with the Hancock Assoc. Board of Directors has our Association in good shape making my job as incoming President much easier. It is good to know that Dale will be sticking around on the Board as Past President to help me and the other board members from 2025 to 2027.
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Our no-charge Hospitality Room opened on Sunday Sep. 28, featuring free beer, soft drinks, hard alcohol, and snacks. It provided a great venue for reconvening with old friends and meeting new ones. We plan to have a similar hospitality room at our next reunion at the Crowne Plaza Providence, RI, Sept. 26, to Sept 30, 2027.
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On Monday we enjoyed a great tour of the Buckhorn Museum featuring an amazing display of stuffed animals and birds. We also toured the Alamo. The Almo had greatly expanded, and the tour guides were at a much higher level since my previous visit to the Alamo.
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The San Antonio River Walk provided a great way to take a pleasant walk or take a riverboat cruise and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
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The Banquet dinner was great. It included a table for the POW-MIA to include a short presentation to recognize who gave so much for our country. A great DJ group who got a lot of old sailors and their wives on the dance floor.
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It also included a well-deserved recognition of Past President Dale Montague and his wife Gayle for two years of exemplary service as President of the Hancock Association.
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Lastly it included the introduction of Dan Powell, your new Association President, 2025-2027.
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At our Association Board Meeting there were several significant events.
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First, Chuck Briggs, our President Elect decided to step down from taking the President role. Mike Greene is stepping up to be the President Elect for 2027-2029. Chuck has agreed to stay on board in an at large position
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We approved two new board members who will be in line to become President. Tim Barker will be the 1st Vice Pres and Richard Poore will be the 2nd Vice President.
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By far our largest expense for our association is the printed edition of The Hannah News. The cost to print and to mail is $6,000 per year. Because of that high cost, the board voted to discontinue the print edition ASAP. We intend to use that savings to subsidize the room cost at our next reunion. We are working out the details of that subsidy. One plan is to provide a Hancock subsidy of $50 per night for up to five nights. For those who do not have email or cannot get the on line Hannah Newsletter. I will find a way to print it and mail it to them.
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Great news, we have accepted Stepanie Bethard as our New Hannah Newsletter Editor.
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The Board voted to allow Associate Members in good standing to become Board Members and Association Officers.
Respectfully Submitted, Dan Powell, Pres.